Card-supporting device.



PATENTBD' JUNE 2, 1908.

E. L. SHERWOOD. CARD SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.1B,1906.

T/Vi'i'nesses:

EDWARD L. SHERWOOD, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

CARD-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed April 18, 1906. Serial No. 312,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. SHERWOOD, citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in card supporting devices adapted to be used in trays, drawers, cabinets, &c. in card-index and record systems.

The especial object of my improvements is to provide a cheap and effective device that will render unnecessary any grooves, rods or other special construction or devices in the trays or drawers and that can be used with any style or form of card.

A further object is to provide a card sup port or follower that can be quickly adjusted and locked in osition, and will maintain its place under all conditions likely to be met with in such devices.

Having the aforegoing special objects and others of general utility in view I have invented the card support shown in a preferred form in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cardtray equipped with my device a portion of the tray being broken away; Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the card-follower; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the follower, and Fig. 5 is a detail showing on an enlarged scale one of. the locking-bars which form a part of the device.

Referring to the details of the drawing, (i represents a card tray of plain construction having unbroken sides and bottom and without rods or other devices fixed thereto. Ar

ranged in the tray and shown in Fig. 1 as supporting some cards, is my improved follower which is composed of two blocks of wood b, 6 of suitable dimensions and secured together in any manner desired. The block b is preferably formed with its lower portion wide to form a broad base for the de vice. The contiguous faces of the blocks are longitudinally grooved or channeled to provide slide-ways for the locking bars 0 to be described, and are also cut out to form recesses b and If. The latter recess has inclined walls at the center of the blocks and extends to the lower edge, and the recesses 5 N, are on each side of the center and are surrounded by the material of the blocks.

Slidably arranged in the longitudinal grooves are two bars 0, preferably made of wood, rectangular in cross-section with their inner ends beveled and their outer ends recessed to receive rubber tips 0 Pins 0 extend through the bars 0 and project into the recesses b thus preventing the bars from dropping out should the follower be removed from its tray.

Loosely arranged in the recess 6 is a wedgeshaped piece 01, the inclined edges of which abut against the beveled inner ends of the rods 0. This piece is also preferably made of wood, and is recessed as at d to receive the washer e on the turned down portion 6 of the screw 6. This screw passes through a suitable opening in the blocks 1) and b and through a threaded opening in a metal plate f which is secured to the upper edges of the blocks. The head of the screw is large enough to be conveniently grasped by the fingers and is preferably knurled as shown.

A device made substantially as set forth, when placed in a tray of suitable width will stand upright on the bottom of same on account of its broad base and when not locked may be moved freely back and forth longitudinally of the tray. If it be desired to lock the follower in any adjusted position, a slight turn of the screw 6 will lift the wedge (Z, whereby the inclined edges of the latter will push the bars 0 outwardly causing their rubber tips 0 to impinge upon or frictionally engage the inner faces of the sides of the box with sufficient pressure to prevent the accidental displacement of the follower. A reverse turn of the screw will release the looking bars from engagement with the sides of the box and permit the removal or readjustment of the follower.

While I have described the follower as made of wood, it can be easily made of metal if desired, the incidental changes in construction not affecting its operation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim, is

1. A card-support and follower, consisting of an element provided with a recess in one margin, a slide-way extending longitudinally through said element, a screw plate, a screw having threaded engagement with said plate and extending into said recess, a wedge-shaped block swiveled 011 said screw and clamp bars located in said slideway and adapted to be engaged by said block.

2. A card-support and follower consisting of an element having a marginal recess, a slideway extending through said element, a screw plate attached to the element, a screw having threaded engagement with said plate, a wedgeshaped block swiveled on said screw, clamp-bars arranged in said slideway and engaging said block, and retaining means for said clamp-bars.

3. A card-support and follower consisting of an element having a marginal recess, a slideway extending longitudinally through said element, ascrew plate secured to the upper margin of said element, a thumb-screw having threaded engagement with said screwplate and extending into said marginal recess, a wedge-shaped block swiveled upon said screw, rectangular clamp-bars arranged in said slide-way and adapted to be engaged by said block, and retaining means for said clamp-bars.

4. A card-support and follower consisting of an element formed of two blocks placed in apposition and provided with channels in their contiguous faces, said channels registering with each other to form a slide-way, locking-bars arranged in said slide-way and provided with friction shoes, a tie plate for securing the said blocks in apposition, a thumb screw having threaded engagement with said tie-plate and a wedge block swiveled on said screw and adapted to project said locking bars.

5. A card-support and follower consisting of an element formed of two blocks placed in apposition and provided with channels in their contiguous faces, said channels registering to form a slide-way, locking-bars ar- J ranged in said slide-way, a wedge block adapted to engage and project said lockingbars and a thumb-screw having a swivel connection with said wedge block.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses:

EDWARD L. SHERWVOOD. Witnesses:

A. G. MAQANDREW, FREDK. W. BLIss. 

